Chapter 24- Well I hope 'tears of joy' or this all just went downhill.....
"Tatum! Max! Mark! stop complaining" My mom scowled.
We were being dragged threw the mall while my mom, Gwen, and Lex shopped.
Why you ask?
Well I can't answer that, because I DON'T KNOW!
I do know one thing, though.
I HATE SHOPPING!
"Mom, can we just go home"? Mark asked.
"Ugh! Alright! Mark, Tatum, and Max go!" My mom finally caved.
We smirked and walked out of the mall.
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My mom was now home and so Lex was out with Taylor for something.
"Tatum"! I heard my mom call from downstairs.
I pulled out my ear-buds and shut my laptop and walked down to the kitchen.
I saw Eli, Mark, Gwen, Max, and my mom all is the kitchen.
I raised an eyebrow and hopped up and sat next to Gwen on the marble counter.
Eli look nervous.
He scratched the back of his neck "Well.....You see-".
"Eli, breath" My mom said.
He breathed and said "Well I love Lex, with all my heart and we've been dating for 3 years now and their has been no problems or break ups".
True.
Lex and Eli, never fight, never split up. They're the perfect couple.
But hey, that's love!
"I was asking for permission if....." He stopped and took a deep breath.
"I could ask Lex to Marry me"? He asked.
Our eyes all widened.
"Holy motherf-" I started but my mom yelled "Tatum Aurora"!
"Firetruck"! I finished.
"Of course Eli" my mom said with tears in her eyes and a smile and she hugged him.
Gwen squealed and Mark and Max nodded; cooly.
Eli looked at me with a worried expression; waiting for an answer.
I asked "What is One-eyed Willie from"?
Everyone gave me a confused look.
Eli raised an eyebrow "The Goonies".
I smiled "Ok you can marry her" I said and hopped off the counter and hugged him.
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"Yep" I said and popped the 'p'.
Beth squealed "O! MY! GOD! They're so cute together!"
I chuckled.
"Well I'll see you in awhile"?
"Ya, your grandfather and his bands playing at the country club, again"?
"Ya" I said.
"Ok, well I got to get ready, bye"! She said and I hung up.
My grandfather's bands playing again at the country club.
Its basically the whole town coming.
My mom came in and said "Wear something nice, because we're going out to eat later at a restaurant. And that means wear a skirt or dress"!
I groaned and she walked out.
I walked to Lex's room and knocked.
"Come in"! She called.
I walked in and she was at her mirror doing her makeup as Eli was sprawled across her bed.
"Lex, I need to borrow some clothes"I said.
She sighed "Ya, okay. Just go find something to wear in my closet".
I walked into her closet.
She has so much clothes!
I grabbed a bunch and went back to my room and got changed.
It was a red, white, and black plaid shirt and it was tucked into a gray skater skirt.
I had black stockings on and black combat boots.
I ran a brush threw my hair and walked out of my room and back to Lex.
"Lex!"I yelled as I entered her room.
"What"? She asked.
I went over to her couch and got up on it and started jumping.
"Tatum, you've been doing that since you were 5" She stated.
"I am 5"!
"Ya, 13 years ago" she said.
I rolled my eyes.
I don't know why, but I always jumped on Lex's couch when I was little.
I plopped down on it.
Eli was dressed to.
"What do you want"? Lex asked.
"I'm bored" I whined.
"Call River" she shrugged.
"I don't know why, you think I have this obsession with River or something" I said confused.
She sighed "You're so oblivious".
"You know what-I'm not even going to ask" I said.
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"Come on Beth"! I yelled as we ran into liquor store.
She caught up.
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her threw the aisle.
She was dressed in a blue dress and combat boots, and I picked her up.
Everyone was at the country club already, and my mom texted me and asked if I would pick up some drinks.
She said "You run to fast".
I rolled my eyes and scanned over the drinks.
"I don't know what to get, I don't drink" I huffed.
She thought "I don't know, I drink beer, so I can't really help you there".
I sighed and picked up red wine, white wine, and a bunch of other drinks.
Beth grabbed some to and we walked up to the cashier.
The guy looked to be about 21.
He smiled "Hi".
"Hi" I smiled.
He raised an eyebrow at all the drinks "You ladies, letting loose tonight"?
Beth said "Nope, just picking this up for our parents".
He chuckled.
"ID please"?
I handed him my idea.
"Ahaha 18" He smiled and started to scan the drinks.
He bagged them and we walked out and got in my truck.
I headed towards the streets.
My phone started to ring.
I answered.
"Where the hell are you"?! Mark asked.
"Mom texted me to pick up some drinks, we're on our way now".
"Okay, Gramps playing in 20".
"Ok" I said and hung up.
"We're late, aren't we"? Beth said.
I nodded "Ya and hold on, because if I don't get there my aunts will murder me".
Her eyes widened "Tatum, don't you dare".
I smirked as we pulled onto the high-way.
I stepped down on the gas and sped threw the roads.
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We ran up to the tent.
I heard music playing and people talking and laughing.
I said to Beth "Follow me".
She nodded and I snuck in the back of everyone.
I went behind the bar and started putting drinks away.
"You're late" I heard my mom say from behind me.
I whirled around and so did Beth.
I put my hands in surrender "You texted me to late"!
She sighed "Well thank you for getting the drinks, Tatum".
I nodded and pulled Beth over to the tables that were all over the place.
It was packed.
"Hey Tatum" Logan and Lewis came up to me.
I smiled "Hey guys".
"Where is all the kiddos"? I asked.
Logan pointed over the the grass field "Attacking River".
I looked over and saw all the little kids playing with River.
I chuckled and walked over.
"Alright kiddos"! I yelled getting their attention.
"Tatum"! They yelled and ran up and hugged me.
"Hey weirdos".
Summer jumped up and I picked her up and placed her on my hip and stuck my forehead to hers and made a face at her and she giggled.
I pulled my forehead away.
"You know Rivers really funny" She said.
"Oh really"? I raised an eyebrow.
"Ya but I don't get most of his jokes that he tells Logan and Lewis".
I sighed and put Summer down and turned towards River "Please don't tell me that you were telling sexual innuendos".
He smirked.
River was dressed in a denim shirt, nice jeans, and low top converses.
He grabbed my hands and pulled me over to him "You look pretty" he said scanning over me.
"You're not so bad yourself" I teased and he scoffed at me.
I danced with Beth and Scarlett as the band played.
A bunch of people were dancing.
"Take me Home tonight"! The crowd and band sang at the same tonight.
Mark, River, Taylor, Lex, Eli, and James joined us.
Lex laughed and Eli kissed her cheek and I grinned to myself.
River took my hands and twirled me and I laughed.
"Take me home tonight! I don't want to let you go, till you see the the light!" I sang with the crowd.
River laughed and we were all doing that 'jump up and down type dance'.
The song ended.
My grandfather said into the microphone "I hope you all enjoyed that song"!
Everyone cheered, hollered, and clapped.
"Tatum, would you come here" He said.
Everyone looked at me and I walked up.
He whispered in my ear "We're doing a memory thing, so share a memory of you and the band".
I nodded and he went to the microphone that was on the stand.
"Uh, hi.....I'm Tatum Crawford....most of you knew that though" I am really bad a t public speaking.
I bit my lip "Ok where was I going with this.............O yeah. Um a memory with the band"???
I thought and everyone stared at me.
"Ten years ago, when I was 8; I went to see my grandfather one day; since I use to go to his house everyday. The band was there for rehearsal. So I remember; being 8-year old me. I was a trouble-maker, and wanted to help. So what do I do? I took a bunch of guitar picks and put them in the 'whole of the guitar' until they wouldn't come out".
Everyone laughed.
"Yeah, I was then caught and my grandfather and the band made me play guitar until all the guitar-picks fell out...........That was 6 hours of playing guitar" I said.
Everyone laughed.
My grandfather placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled then saying into the microphone "I blame River, for making her a trouble-maker" with a chuckle.
I looked at River and he smirked proudly and raised his drink in the air "Anytime Florence"!
I smiled and walked back to everyone.
"This song goes out to all those who actually know how to slow dance" Todd said into the microphone.
I was standing and talking to Beth as couples went to slow dance.
"Go dance" Beth said.
"With who".
She narrowed her eyes at me.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Go ask River" she said.
My eyes widened "What?! No!"
"Why?" She asked.
"Because he's going to get the wrong idea" I said in a duh tone.
"Just go ask him" She pleaded.
"Why"? I asked.
"Why not". She smirked.
I glared at her, before she pushed me over to him and I stumbled into the back of him.
He turned around and caught me "Hey Klutz".
"Hi" I mumbled and looked back at Beth and she smirked.
I looked back at River and he raised an eyebrow.
I bit my lip and scratched the back of my neck "You want to dance"?
He smirked and took my hand and pulling me out to the dance floor and wrapping his hands around my waist and I wrapped mine around his neck.
"Beth made you ask. Didn't she"?
I nodded "Yeah".
He rolled his eyes "Of course she would".
We swayed back and fourth and his eyes met mine.
"Stop that" River said.
"Stop what"?
"Stop with your beautiful eyes" He smiled and my cheeks went red.
"Well in that case you have to stop that too" I implied.
He smirked.
I bit my lip, and looked down at my feet.
I stepped up on River's feet and he looked down and I saw his cheeks go red.
Is River Xavier Lockwood Blushing???
He swayed back and fourth and his hands tightened around my waist and pulled me closer to him.
I kept my eyes down and watched as my feet stood on his.
"Beth give me my phone back"! I exclaimed as she and Gwen kept throwing it to each other.
"I will as long as you don't change your background" she smirked.
"Fine" I muttered.
"Swear are on you grandmothers grave"? She asked.
"I swear on my grandmothers grave" I sighed.
Rest in peace Gram.
She handed me my phone back and I looked at my phone.
My eyes widened and jaw dropped "You did not"!
She smirked.
It was a picture of River and I slow dancing.
"You swore" She reminded.
I sighed and put it in my pocket "Whatever" and walked away.
"Girls, lets go!" My mom yelled and we all raced down the cars.
I slid against the rocks and caught my balance.
Everyone was down here.
Aunt Phoebe said "Ok, we need to figure out, who's going with who; so we can all go to the restaurant.
I suggested "Let's just go to McDonald's and call it a night"!
"Tatum" Aunt Amelia warned.
I sighed.
"Ok well little kids pair up with a teenager".
Then a bunch of kids ran over and tackled me.
I put my hands in surrender "Whoa! Whoa! I am not taking all of these".
My mom said "Alright, it's going to be River, Tatum, James, Beth, Zoe, Summer, and Spring in Tatum's car".
I said "I only have 6 seats".
Aunt Jessa said "Lap. James you drive. Beth in passenger seat. Zoe between Beth and James up front. Summer and Spring in back. Tatum you lap with River".
"What?!" I said "I don't think I heard you clearly".
"You heard her correctly" Beth smirked.
I groaned and everyone else got as assigned cars.
I handed James my keys and we all got in. I buckled Summer and Spring and River got in on the right side.
Beth buckled Zoe in.
I stood on the edge of the truck and River pulled me in and down into his lap.
James started to drive and said "Tatum, I don't know where I am going so, you have to tell me where".
I said "Make a right up the road".
I took out my phone and started scrolling threw it.
Spring asked "Tatum"?
"Hmm"?
"Is River your boyfriend"?
Beth and James laughed and I choked.
"No!"
River smirked "She wished I was".
"Ya right" I rolled my eyes.
He pushed me back up against him since I was leaning up.
"O really"? He asked.
He placed his hand on my thigh and made circles on my thigh with his fingers.
My breath hitched and my heart raced.
He whispered in my ear "So this, doesn't make you, feel anything"?
I gulped silently "No" I managed to get out.
His finger stopped tracing circles and pushed my skirt up higher, and higher.
"Stop"! I blurted and he smirked victoriously.
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I popped a fry in my mouth as I finished up my meal.
Everyone was taking selfies.
Eli grabbed my forearm and pulled me out of my seat and to the back of the restaurant.
"Ok, you have to get everyone's attention, and get them outside".
"Ya okay" I said "You ready"?
He nodded and smiled.
I smiled and walked back to everyone.
Everyone was talking.
I clapped my hands together.
Nothing......
I clapped louder.
Nothing..........
I pulled out a chair and stood up on it "Shut up"!
Everyone silenced and looked at me.
I sighed "Okay, now can you all go outside"
Everyone got up and walked out.
Mark and I took Lex's hand and pulled her out last.
She gasped.
Eli was standing out on the field where a path of roses led up to.
He was holding a bouquet of flowers.
Lex's eyes filled up with tears.
I pushed her forward and she walked down.
Eli took her hands and knelt down on one knee.
She put a hand over her mouth and tears of joy flooded her face.
Well at least I hope 'tears of joy' if not this just went downhill.....
"Lex Crawford, I've loved you since I first laid by eyes on you when I met you at the football game. Will you make me the happiest man on earth, and marry me"?
Lex nodded and he slid the ring onto her finger and he stood up and pressed his lips to hers.
Everyone hollered and cheered.
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A://N
HOLY LONG CHAPTER!!!
Almost 3000 words!!!
Anyways, tell me if you liked this chapter?!?!
I've noticed you guys have been lacking in Comments..... :(
Come on guys! Comment! I like reading what you guys think!
Are you guys Team River?? If so comment, #Triver
But remember I could always bring another love interest into the story ;)
MMMWHHAAAA!
Calm, I'm not that mean.........or am I?
My throat hurts!
I think I have Strep throat!
I BLAME SCHOOL!!!
See I get sick, because I go to school!!
Anyways, I'm in a writing mode so I'm going to start writing the next chapter.
Well that's it
BYE
~Ashley (Ash)